Wednesday, March 5, 2014

I Choose Happy...

I know it seems like I fell off the planet, I did in a way. I moved across the United States from the East Coast (Virginia) to the West Coast (Oregon) in October. It happened very quickly for my husband's job - we sold our house in Virginia, found a new house and school in Oregon, packed, and got ourselves, all of our stuff, and our greyhound, Pippi across the United States in 5 weeks. We drove across America in two cars with our dog, our kids, and my in-laws. Along the way, we visited family in Ohio, our family farm in Iowa, ate a lot of really bad gas station food and stayed at a variety of hotels - some great and some that were really, really awful. We met a totally crazy lady and her pet Bobcat on a leash at a hotel - I was afraid she was going to eat my dog or my kids. We changed a blown-out tire, watched sunsets and sunrises, saw breathtaking scenery, and smelled horrible smells by factories and hog farms. We drove through farmland, desserts, across rivers, and through a terrible freezing fog and ice storm in Wyoming. We called our road trip the "Oregon Trail" and we were grateful that no one got Dysentery!

That is why I took a blogging break. But there was more to it than that, and there still is. I was also grieving and broken. I lost one of my very best friends to cancer. Then another good friend and co-worker to cancer. I also lost my grandmother and watched two more of my best friends get diagnosed with cancer, one of them was last week, one of them was two weeks before I moved. It has been a lot to process. Relocating and moving are never easy. Moving across the country to a state you've never been too is also a lot to process. Burying friends and family is hard. Cancer is awful and it's WAY too close to home for me, if you've read this postabout my husband, you know why.

I've been organizing. Setting up house. Getting into a new school routine. Finding doctors, a vet, a hairdresser, grocery stores, visiting the DMV, all the fun stuff you have to do when you start your life over again.

We are spending more time as a family outdoors and less time commuting in our cars. We love our new town and we're making new friends here. We are getting back to nature and doing a better job of balancing life and work. I've been spending time off-line and with my family, allowing myself to not feel pressured to document everything for my next blog post, or feel pressured to over share on social media. I've been reflecting on my blog and what kind of place I want it to be for you, my readers, and for myself.
I'm back. I'm still broken but, I'm also healing.
I'm trying to make art again -- slowly, carefully, and when it feels right.

I choose Happy.
I choose Gratitude.
I choose New Beginnings.

My regularly scheduled kid's arts and crafts blogging will resume next week, but at a more relaxed pace. Thank you for your patience.

awwwwwh, ml, this is why you have been --and will always be-- one of my favorite bloggers and thankfully, one of my dearest friends. you are so real, so honest, so crazy creative, smart, talented, and so genuine. we're all here for you, my friend, and you may be surprised at how healing you find blogging to be--an old familiar friend for you in your new life out west, but also different as now it will be on your own terms, new terms. looking forward to this next chapter and . . ahem, also need to plan a family getaway to your neck o' the woods.. . . praying for your healing as you work through all of this. always. you rock, pink and green mama. xoxo

Wow - you have been through so much the past few months. I hope that you're finding healing & peace. It sounds like you've found a wonderful place to live as well as a beautiful balance for you & your family. Thanks for sharing your reading list - I also just started "Hands Free Mama" & I see a couple of others that I need to check out. I'm so glad you'll be posting again - you've been missed!

MaryLea, I am so sorry for the grief you are going through. My husband and I lost our best friend and spiritual mentor in July and we're still numb. I'm thankful you recognized a need and took time off, although you were greatly missed.

Welcome to the West Coast! I moved to WA from MN ten years ago and it took three years of culture shock to adjust. But, I've found many blessings, as I know you will, too.

I want to tell you about one of my blessings, finding two Christian writers groups to join, one in WA and one in OR. I know you are still adjusting and healing, but if you ever feel led and ready, it could be a blessing to you. Your crafts are amazing, but your writing is good. You touch hearts.

I just happened to stop by to see if you might be back and yea! You are here :) Sending hugs for the sadness in your life these past few months -- illness and death are always things that make us stop and reflect. I lost my grandmother last year and think about her often -- she had a wonderful life and died on her terms but of course, is still missed by her family.

Take care and looking forward to seeing what's up in your new home. And thanks for listing the books you're reading, I found a new one to add to my library list.

Hello,I just discoverd your blog today and I enjoyed it very much. I am a two boys mother from Romania (just the other side of the planet :p) and I want to tell that your blog is very inspiring and I apreciate your work. Excuse my english and keep up the good work.:)Oana (the Romanian for Jane):P

School Age

Recent Posts

Click here to follow my blog and receive new posts by email.

Disclosure of Material Connection: My family and I received one or more of the products or services mentioned in some of my posts for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe my readers will enjoy in connection with my blog theme. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” All opinions expressed on this blog are my own and all content is mine. I do not post pre-written posts from outside parties. My lesson plans and craft ideas are not to be sold for profit by others. Please play nicely. This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission.This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on April 21, 2013. Pink and Green Mama is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.